Chi' Noodin Big Wind

Marge O'Leary passed away on January 31, 2020. She leaves a loving and strong family of siblings, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Marge was born in the Hayward Indian Hospital in 1928, the 5 ^th living child of Fred and Madge Smith.  Eventually there would be ten children of Fred and Madge, not including 2 who died in infancy.  She grew up in Reserve and attended Kinnamon School and Hayward High School.  Upon graduation she moved to Chicago where she met her lifelong partner, Vincent O'Leary.  Vince was in the U.S. Army.

Marge and Vince moved to Stamford, Connecticut where they raised seven children. They were a close and loving couple and shared a sense of humor that brought smiles and laughter to everyone around them.  In her work life, Marge was a senior caregiver, working at the Dinan Center in Bridgeport, CT for over 20 years.  Marge returned to LCO in 1994 after Vince's passing along with one of her children.  She joined the Great Lakes Senior Companion Program assisting tribal elders for 19 years.

Seven children mourn her passing: Kathy Masso, Jerri (Frank) Lopez, Steven O'Leary, Patricia (Ed) Liscio, Helen (Lee) Anderson, Patrick (Jody) O'Leary, and Maureen (Jerry) Quagon.  She leaves 18 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

She also leaves 3 sisters and a brother who cherished her throughout her life: Bertha Christensen, Richard Smith, Lorraine Smith and Sandy Bird, in addition to many nieces and nephews.

Marge was preceded in death by her husband, Vincent O'Leary; parents, Fred and Madge Smith; brother, Leonard Smith; sisters, Beatrice Stewart, Frieda McPherson Smith, Geraldine Butterfield, and Jeanette Lowry; great grandson, Louis Joseph Beaulieu; and great granddaughter, Adrianna Anderson.

At Marge's final request, her ashes will be buried next to her husband in Connecticut. A mass was offered at St. Francis Solanus Church on Tuesday, February 4 ^th , 11:00 am, followed by a lunch at Pineview Funeral Service.  All were welcome to join Marge's family in a celebration of her full life.